Lance Armstrong Gets 30-Day Extension to Answer Doping Charges

Michael Stewart/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The United States Anti-Doping Agency has granted Lance Armstrong a 30-day extension to answer the organization’s charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions while winning seven Tour de France titles.

The extension comes one day after the champion cyclist re-filed a lawsuit against the anti-doping agency in federal court to stop it from imposing a deadline of this Saturday to either accept the charges and face a lifetime ban and the loss of his titles, or reject them and enter into arbitration.

Armstrong’s lawsuit claims he has been denied due process. His attorney, Tim Herman, says the extension will give the court “sufficient time” to review the cyclist's complaint.

The USADA said in a statement it granted the extension “until the court dismisses the lawsuit or rules on any preliminary injunction.”

The agency statement continued, “USADA believes this lawsuit like previous lawsuits aimed at concealing the truth is without merit and is confident the court will continue to uphold the established rules which are compliant with federal law and were approved by athletes, the U.S. Olympic Committee, and all Olympic sports organizations.”

Two doctors and a trainer associated with Armstrong received lifetime bans this week for their role in what the agency said was a “doping conspiracy.”